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Episcopalians confirm election of gay bishop

The Episcopal Church General Convention meeting in Minneapolis confirmed the election of V. Gene Robinson as bishop of the New Hampshire Diocese.

The House of Bishops voted 62-43 Aug. 5 to confirm the election of the openly gay bishop. On Aug. 3 one of the General Conventionï¿½s two housesï¿½the House of Deputiesï¿½had confirmed his election by a 3-2 margin.

The confirmation vote in the House of Bishops had been postponed when 11th-hour allegations of sexual misconduct emerged. Robinson was cleared of all charges.

In an Aug. 3 e-mail to Bishop Thomas Ely of Vermont, David Lewis of Manchester, Vt., alleged that Robinson had touched him inappropriately several years ago. "I am a straight male reporting homosexual harassment," Lewis wrote.

Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold appointed Bishop Gordon Scruton of Western Massachusetts to investigate the claim. He also investigated claims that Robinson is affiliated with Outright.org, a Web site with alleged links to pornographic sites.